Retainer plates for throwing machine

ABSTRACT

A set of universal fit retaining plates which secure to one or more legs of a ball pitching or skeet throwing machine to help maintain a steady trajectory of the throwing mechanism. The plates are engaged to the ground with protruding devices and secure to the machine leg(s) by means such as a funnel type pocket which can hold the end of a leg in a wedge fit condition. This accommodates a variety of machines with different leg angles, leg end profiles, and leg end materials. The retaining plates help keep the throwing machine in a steady position in a variety of conditions and situations such as hard, dusty ball field surfaces, soft, moist field conditions or when a ball hits the machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a retaining plate device that is adaptable to a variety of throwing machine configurations. These machines are well known in the prior art. Examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,440,0132, 6,089,217 and 5,947,101. These machines are generally provided with a tripod leg type base in which some designs the legs fold up for compact storage. However, none have universal-fit leg retaining plates that hold the throwing machine in position to maintain a steady throwing trajectory in a variety of conditions.

Most pitching machines on the market have no physical means to horizontally hold the unit in place during multiple use cycles other than tangential friction between the end of the leg and the ground surface. After a few pitches or after the machine is hit by a ball or player, it can shift causing an undesirable game delay because subsequent machine position readjustments are necessary. This readjustment requirement can be especially acute if poor field conditions are encountered such as hard, dusty surfaces or a soft, muddy field.

Some machines offer dedicated retaining pin provisions integral to the leg. But these are specific to the machine and are not universally adaptable to other designs like the proposed invention. These designs often require inconvenient use of tools such as a hammer to drive stakes into the ground. These driven stakes in turn can be difficult to pull out before removing the machine from the field. They also offer limited load distribution and can still work loose in certain field conditions after multiple pitching cycles because they do not have a self tightening mechanism that results in tighter ground engagement and tighter grip on the leg(s) after multiple use cycles. Also the fit-up between a separate pin and the pin mounting provision is a loose fit resulting in relative motion between the pitching machine and the ground which in turn detrimentally affects pitching accuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a simple method to secure a throwing machine to the ground in order to maintain a steady throwing trajectory.

It is the principal objective of this invention to provide a securing means that is universally adaptable to a variety of throwing machine configurations.

Another objective of this invention is to have integral to the retaining plates, ground engaging protrusions offering a wide load distribution pattern and configured to optimize performance and cost.

Another objective is increased ground engagement of retainer plate(s) after repeated throwing cycles.

Still another objective of this invention is to incorporate a wedge style pocket to have a tight fit with the end of a throwing machine leg and can accommodate a variety of leg end shapes and sizes.

A further objective of this invention is to also demonstrate a variety of alternative designs that can accomplish similar objectives.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall photograph of a pitching machine showing the preferred embodiment of three retainer plates that hold the machine in position.

FIG. 2 is a close up photograph of one of the leg ends engaged in the retainer plate from the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the three retainer plates that are used in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A shows an isometric view of the rectangular retainer plate configuration with a four side leg end pocket. FIG. 4B is a top view and FIG. 4C is a side view of the retainer plate shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A shows a top view of a triangular profile retainer plate with three protrusions. FIG. 5B shows a perspective view of a retainer plate with two full length ground engaging protrusions and a pinned type leg retention mechanism. FIG. 5C is a retainer plate with alternative protrusion profiles and spike locations. FIG. 5D shows the retainer protrusions fabricated at non perpendicular angles. FIG. 5E shows a retainer with a pinned type leg fastening means and a receiving tube that fits over one of the pitching machine legs and it also shows weld-on type ground engaging protrusions. FIG. 5F shows a retainer plate concept which is secured to the ground with loose pins.

FIG. 6A-6C shows a retainer plate with a three sided wedge type leg engaging pocket.

FIG. 7 shows a leg retainer concept that utilizes a single ground engaging pin.

FIGS. 8A & 8B show a U-type stake that is driven over the throwing machine leg.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the illustrations, in FIG. 1 the legs 13 of a pitching machine 10 are mounted on the pitching retaining plates 11. This figure shows three retainer plates 11. However one plate 11 could be used with the leg on the opposite side of the pitching direction and still achieve most of the benefits from this design. The retainer plates are engaged into the ground 12 which results in a fixed, steady position of the pitching machine which in turn improves pitching accuracy. FIG. 2 shows a closer perspective of one of the pitching machine legs 13 mounted to retaining plate 11. Plate 11 is engaged to the ground 12 by means of four integral protrusions 15. In this illustration a rubber leg end cap 14 can be seen on the end of the leg 13. This end cap 14 fits into pocket 16 of retainer plate 11. This allows plate 11 to be secured to pitching machine leg 13. Plate 11 is large enough (8″×6″ is ideal size) to conveniently accommodate the foot of an installer to sequentially apply adequate ground engagement force to each corner of plate 11. These installation forces from the foot cause protrusions 15 to engage the ground 12. The photograph in FIG. 3 is a close up of three retainer plates 11. It shows protrusions 15 and the configuration of pocket 16.

In FIGS. 4A-4C, the four protrusions 15 in plate 11 can have a “V” shaped profile which result in tighter ground engagement every time a force cycle is applied from a throwing machine. The protrusion 15 profile in these illustrations results from the corners indicated by 60 (per FIG. 4B) of an economically produced rectangular flat pattern piece of ⅛″ thick metal being bent ˜90 degrees where the bending centerline at each corner is at a ˜45 degree angle relative to the sides of the flat pattern rectangle. Protrusions 15 seem to function best when their length is ˜1″. This ˜6″×˜8″ retainer plate envelope also results in a wide load distribution pattern which means the plates resist rocking and spreads the load forces to each corner. This plate size also works well when removing the plate from the ground because there is a large area that can be kicked to loosen up the plate and/or the large area can be grabbed by the hand and lifted up from the ground. A storage hole 803 can be incorporated to accommodate convenient storage and handling via a pin or hook. This same hole can be used with a loose ground engaging spike for redundant means of securing the plates to the ground. Use of pocket gusset 16 creates a four sided pocket design that retains a pitching machine leg end. The upper and lower planes of this pocket result in a wedge fit on the leg end. The pocket left and right sides are configured to accommodate a popular sized leg end and prevent it from moving horizontally side to side in a direction perpendicular to the leg.

FIGS. 5A-5F show alternative protrusion and plate designs that could also be utilized. FIG. 5A shows the top view of a retainer plate 11A that is a triangular type design with three integral protrusions 15A. The protrusion 15A profile in this case results from bending over the corners whose points are indicated by 60A of a triangular shaped flat pattern. A four side pocket 16A is shown in this design. FIG. 5B shows a rectangular type retainer plate 11B design with two protrusions 15B that extend the length of the part perpendicular to a vertical plane which intersects the center axis of pitching machine leg 13B. This leg 13B is secured to the retainer plate in this case via pin 800. Protrusions 15C shown in FIG. 5C show how a plate 11C can be fabricated with custom protrusion profiles 15C and the quantity of protrusions can vary. Variations of plate 11C could also incorporate multiple protrusions with a range of ground engagement angles. FIG. 5D is a variation of FIG. 5B which shows an example of protrusions 15B with alternative bend angles 20D that can be optimized relative to the leg 13D position.

FIG. 5E shows a plate design 11E with protrusion means 15E that are secured to the plate via welding. Receiver tube 200 is sized to fit over the end the pitching machine leg 13E. The receiver tube 200 is fastened to holes in retainer plate gusset 513 via a pin 512. A variety of means can be used to maintain a secure fit between the leg 13E and the tube 200. This illustration shows cross holes in receiver tube 200 and leg 13E which are aligned so pin 514 can be utilized to fasten the leg to the retainer plate assembly. FIG. 5F shows a loose retaining pin mechanism 15F used to secure retainer plate 11F to the ground. The plate can be designed to accommodate one or more 15E retaining pins.

A variety of means can be incorporated to retain the leg to the retainer plate. One alternative means is illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B. FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a configuration that shows the end of a pitching machine leg 136 with leg end cap 146 that engages into the pocket 166 of plate assembly 116. The pocket 166 has two internal planes caused by pocket bracket 176 and a third plane from upper plate surface 186. Pocket 166 in this case results in 3 sides which contact the end of the leg end in a funnel-wedge type fashion. The three sided pocket design with tapered angles results in a tight fit and is compatible with a wide range of leg end sizes and profiles. The pocket 166 can be made so it is has an opening 196 which minimizes material used in bracket 176. This opening 196 can accommodate economical manufacturing methods. For example, paint coverage is easier inside the open pocket design, it can serve as a handling hook, and the pocket bracket 176 can be fabricated economically via a single bend and attached to plate 116 by 2 welds. FIGS. 6B and 6C are side and top views of the design shown in 6A.

The retaining plate in FIG. 7 shows a variation where the leg end retaining pocket arrangement 30 is used with a simple plate 31 with a hole 32 that accommodates ground engaging mounting pin 33. Pocket 30 can be accomplished by a variety of other configurations such as a cut off circular tube section welded to the plate that the leg fits into. This design can also be modified such that pin 33 is used in conjunction with one or more ground engaging protrusion variations described above. Variations can also be developed which incorporate any of the above described means to attach the leg to the retaining plate.

FIGS. 8A & 8B show a U-shaped anchor 900 made from round steel rod material which can be driven over pitching machine leg(s) 13 and into the ground 12. Leg end 146 may also be accommodated with this design. It can ideally have pointed ends 901 to reduce effort required to penetrate the ground.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the size, shape, type, number and arrangement of parts described hereinbefore. These and other changes may be made, as desired, without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of claims to be made. 

1. A retaining brackets used to hold a steady position of a pitching machine which includes; a top surface, a pocket mounted on said top surface, and said pocket including an opening to connect a leg of the pitching machine to the bracket and a plurality of ground engaging protrusions extending away from said top surface to engage a ground surface to prevent shifting of a pitching machine during use.
 2. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the includes a surface with a taper that causes said leg to wedge in said pocket.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the ground engaging protrusions are formed by bending down corners of the top surface of the retainer bracket.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said top surface is a generally planar top surface.
 7. A combination machine leg and retaining bracket used to hold a steady position of a machine, said combination including: a retaining bracket having a top surface, a funnel pocket mounted on said top surface and said funnel pocket including an opening to receive a portion of said leg of the pitching machine and at least one ground engaging protrusion extending away from said top surface to engage a ground surface to prevent shifting of the machine during use.
 8. The combination as recited in claim 7, wherein the funnel pocket includes a surface with a taper that causes said portion of said leg to wedge in said pocket.
 9. The combination as recited in claim 8, wherein said funnel pocket includes an angle bracket having at least two planar surfaces attached to said top surface and wherein each of said at least two planar surfaces and said top surface engage with said portion of said leg to secure against movement relative to said funnel pocket.
 10. The combination as recited in claim 9, wherein the at least one ground engaging protrusion is formed by bending down a corner of the top surface of the retainer bracket.
 11. The combination as recited in claim 10, wherein said top surface includes a hole and wherein said combination includes a spike adapted to pass through said hole to further secure said top surface to said ground.
 12. The combination as recited in claim 11, wherein said top surface is rectangular and includes four triangular protrusions formed by bending down of four corners of said rectangular top surface.
 13. The combination as recited in claim 7, wherein said top surface is a generally planar top surface.
 14. A universal retaining bracket used to hold a steady position of a throwing machine leg on a ground surface, said retaining bracket including: a generally planar top surface, a funnel pocket mounted on said generally planar top surface and said funnel pocket including an opening to receive a portion of said leg of the throwing machine and at least one ground engaging protrusion extending away from said generally planar top surface to engage said ground surface to prevent horizontal shifting of the machine during use.
 15. The retaining bracket as recited in claim 14, wherein the funnel pocket includes a bracket with a taper that causes said portion of said leg to wedge in said pocket.
 16. The retaining bracket as recited in claim 14, wherein said funnel pocket includes an angle bracket having at least two planar interior surfaces attached to said planar top surface and wherein each of said at least two planar surfaces and said planar top surface engage with said portion of said leg to secure against movement relative to said funnel pocket during use of said machine.
 17. The retaining bracket as recited in claim 14, wherein the at least one ground engaging protrusion is formed by bending down a corner of the planar top surface of the retainer bracket.
 18. The retaining bracket of claim 14, wherein said planar top surface includes a hole and wherein said bracket includes a spike adapted to pass through said hole to further secure said planar top surface to said ground.
 19. The retaining bracket as recited in claim 14, wherein said planar top surface is rectangular and includes four triangular protrusions formed by bending down four corners of said rectangular planar top surface.
 20. The retaining bracket as recited in claim 14, wherein said leg can be removed from said funnel pocket by picking up said machine.
 21. The retaining bracket as recited in claim 14, wherein said leg is attached to said retaining plate. 